Probably the best one man band you'll ever see. A long time stalwart of the Scottish folk and blues circuits. Or, as today's introduction went, the singing pipe cleaner. Any and all of them fit Mike Whellans, still a hugely entertaining performer at 75. He's chatty, amusing, has a fund of stories to tell and is no mean musician and singer. It's impressive to watch this stick of a man drive out the blues whilst playing bass drum with one foot, hi hat with the other, guitar in both hands and a moothie at his lips. Having played with many great blues artists in his time he has excellent taste in his choice of material, both classic and obscure (and he loves a bit of obscurity does Mike).
Away from the 'band' set up he performs the most impressive part of the show, a harmonica solo that turns into a 'drum' solo, with the drum effects achieved purely with his mouth. It's hard to believe unless you've seen it.
Whellans ended this blues show in typically perverse fashion, with a medley of Aberdeenshire folk ditties. A refreshing way to end, full of humour and imagery, albeit probably impossible to understand for the non-Scots in the audience.
A national institution.
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